Three spree free up inside for Arkansas

Arkansas coach Jimmy Dykes celebrates against South Dakota Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, during the second half of play in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Arkansas coach Jimmy Dykes celebrates against South Dakota Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016, during the second half of play in Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas women’s basketball team put its offense on full display Monday at Bud Walton Arena.

The Razorbacks hit from three-point range early, then kept the points coming with 47 percent shooting from the floor in a 79-62 victory against Stetson in nonconference action in front of an announced crowd of 733.

Arkansas Coach Jimmy Dykes said the Razorbacks made an effort to push the ball inside after going 7 for 11 on three-point attempts in the first.

“We talked about it, that’s not who we are,” Dykes said. “I do think this is the best shooting club we’ve had since we’ve been here. But we made an effort to get the ball inside in the second half.”

Dykes had praise for Malica Monk, who scored 18 points while hitting 6 of 10 from the field.

“I thought it was Malica Monk’s best game as a Razorback,” Dykes said. “She’s made tremendous progress from last year to this year.”

Jessica Jackson scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds, with 10 points coming early in the first quarter to set the quick tone for the Razorbacks (4-0). Jailyn Mason contributed 11 points for Arkansas.

Stetson (4-1) focused on containing Jackson and slowing down the Razorbacks inside from the outset. But with Arkansas going 7 of 11 on three-pointers in the first half, the Hatter’s gameplan quickly went awry.

“Typically watching them on film they had pounded it down inside,” Stetson Coach Lynn Bria said. “But they were in a flow today and were knocking them down like we hadn’t seen before.”

Arkansas led 45-29 at the half, but was unable to completely put the game away in the second.

Late offense from Monk, Jackson and Jordan Danberry helped the Razorbacks clinch a 17-point victory.

Arkansas outrebounded Stetson 45-20.

Brianti Saunders led Stetson with 17 points and Breana Bey added 14 points and five rebounds. Arkansas faces Memphis at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the first game of the Nugget Classic in Reno, Nev.

TOP 25/SEC WOMEN

NO. 3 SOUTH CAROLINA 79,

MAINE 42

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A’ja Wilson had 14 points and Alaina Coates had 12 points and 14 rebounds as No. 3 South Carolina (3-0) used its height advantage to blow past Maine in the Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Challenge.

The Gamecocks (3-0) used some strong defense to open up the lead, using a 15-0 run to start the game and a 13-0 charge coming into the third quarter. Wilson had four of the team’s five blocks with Coates swatting the other.

SWAC WOMEN

AUSTIN PEAY 69, UAPB 55

PINE BLUFF — Tearra Banks scored a game-high 34 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to power Austin Peay (4-1) past Arkansas-Pine Bluff at H.O. Clemmons Arena.

Banks, a sophomore center, hit 15 of her 18 shots and went 4 of 5 from the free-throw line for the Governors, who led by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter.

Beth Rates added 11 points and eight rebounds for Austin Peay while Bri Williams had seven points and 9 assists. The Governors shot 51 percent (25 of

49) for the game and outrebounded the Lady Lions 69-55.

Destiny Brewton scored 23 points for UAPB (0-3), which finished 22 of 64 (34 percent) for the game.

ARKANSAS 79, STETSON 62

Sports on 11/22/2016

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